Semi-weekly south Kentuckian., 1887-01-04

angles, and terminating in holes filled
with charcoal. The top Of this solid
cylindrical structure is divided into
seycnty-two compartments or stone
collins, arranged in three circles
around the well, their common center,
from which the divisions radiate. Here
again we see the sacred numbers three
and sevcnty-two. A narrow ridge of
stone separates them one from the
other, and each circle is divided from
the next by pathway, the smallest
lying around the well. Leading from
the single door which admits the Nasa-
salar, or corpse-bcarers from without,
is another pathway crossing the others,
thus giving easy access TO all the diyi-
sions, in .hc outer circle of which are
laid the bodies of men, in the second
those of women, and in the third and
smallest those of little children. Ris-
ing from this solid masonry, and join
ing 1t in the same line, is wall or
parapet some ten feet high, also of
stone covered with chunam, which
quite conecals the interior from view.
After the solemn ceremonies conse-
Grating the towers to their special use,
only the corpse-bearers may enter, and
all other persons are forbidden to APP
proach within thirty feet.
When medical attendant decides
that n Parsee can not recover, a priest
is sent for, who approaches the bed
and repeats various texts from the
Zend-Avesta calculated to afford con-
ISOLATION TO the dying man. Prayers
are also said for the forgiveness of his
sins When he dies funeral sermon
is preached, exhOrting the friends of
the deceased to live pure and holy lives
that they may meet him in paradise.
They are reminded that they must one
day be called from this world to the
presence Of God to give full account
of their deeds here, and as they do not
know how soon that may be they are
urged to prepare for DEATH and 90
meet it with resignation Snd willing
ness. Riches. wealth, influence aud
friends have no avail in the next world.
Those who desire TO reach the eternal
paradise, must spend their days here
in holiness and prayer, and in doing
good to their fellow-creaturcs
The sermon lasts about an hour, and
concludes with the words: "May God
have mercy on the deadn'
The body is brought down to the
ground-lloor (where it was born),
washed, perfumed, wrapped in white
sheet and placed upon an iron bier. A
dog is brought TO gaze at the dead face
of his masterto drive away evil spirits
Several priests attend and repeat
prayers for the ropose of the soul OF
the departed and that IL may safely
reace its destination, which it is sup
posed to do on the fourth day after
death. The relatives and friends all
bow low IN token Of respect, and the
Nasasalar. clad in pure white gar
ments (Which are always furnished ilcw
for every funeraD, raise the bier and
bear the body from the house. while
the mourners utter loud cries and
lamentations, Priests in full dress
lead the procession, in which are only
the male friends and relatives Of the
deceased. They, too, are dressed in
white, aud walk two by two, each
couple joined by holding white hand
kerchief between thcm.
When the bearers reach the path
leading to the door of the tower, they
place the bier upon the ground and un-
cover the face of the dead, that the
friends may take n last look, and all
revorently bow, after which the mourn-
ers turn back, and enter one of the
Sagri. and pray for the departed spirit.
The bearers proceed to the tower, and
unlocking the door, carry their burden
within. and quickly lay it uncovered in
one of the stone rcccptacles. In two
minutes they appear with the empty
bier and white sheet, and the door is no
sooner closed behind them than numcr-
Gus vultures. that have been sitting al
most motionless in circle on the edge
of the parapct, swoop down upon tho
body, and in Il few minutes return and
lazily settle themselves again, having
left nothing behind but skeleton. Tho
bearers. on leaving the tower, proceed
to a building shaped like huge barrel,
where they baihe and change their
clothes, bringing out their polluted
funeral garb and casting it aside upon
receptacle of stone prepared for this
purpose. None of these garments can
leave The garden, lest they carry con-
tamination with them.
The skeleton is left to be bleached
aud washed by sun and rain, and when
three or four weeks have passed, the
same bearers return, and with gloved
hands and Instruments like tongs drop
the bones into their last resting place,
the central well. The peculiar duties
of the Nasasalar are considered so ins
separable from defilement that, form
ing distinct class. they are compelled
to live quite apart from the rest OF the
community, and MS partial compcnsa-
tion for their isolation they are literally
paid for their services, HTDer'S
Bazdr,